Floods sweep through 12 West Aceh villages, leaving suspension bridge unusable
Flooding in Indonesia's West Aceh has affected 12 villages in three subdistricts, prompting the local disaster management agency to send a joint response team. Floodwaters also destroyed a suspension bridge connecting two villages in Sungai Mas, disrupting travel for thousands of residents.
High rivers threaten homes
The flooding started on October 31 after the Krueng Meureubo River in Pante Ceureumen and the Krueng Woyla River in Sungai Mas spilled over their banks, acting disaster management agency chief Dharmawan said. Speaking to reporters in Meulaboh on Sunday, November 1, he attributed the floods to heavy rain and overflowing rivers in inland West Aceh.
Water reached depths of several dozen centimeters in some locations. With rivers still high and water already inside some homes, the agency warned people along the riverbanks to stay alert.
Seven of the affected villages are in Pante Ceureumen: Keutambang, Lawet, Jambak, Puloe Teungoh, Lango, Canggai and Sikundo. Water eroded a road and a school fence in Sikundo, where Dharmawan said river currents were still strong at midday Sunday.
In Sungai Mas, flooding affected Tungkop, Kajeung, Lancong and Geudong. Napai was the affected village in Woyla Barat, where a sharp rise in water levels sent floodwaters into residents' homes.
Bridge loss forces longer journeys
Floodwaters struck the suspension bridge over the Krueng Woyla between Kajeung and Tungkop on November 1, 2026, leaving it severely damaged and unusable, according to Sungai Mas Subdistrict head Zulkifli.
Officials said thousands of residents have lost access via the crossing and now face a detour of about five kilometers to reach the subdistrict capital. The alternative route adds about 25 minutes for people traveling to the community health center, known as the Puskesmas, or to school.
The bridge had only been repaired this year. Zulkifli said it was damaged during the flash floods that struck Aceh on November 26, 2025, and the Indonesian military, or TNI, repaired it in 2026 before the latest flooding destroyed it again.
Woyla Barat flooded days earlier
Napai had also been inundated less than a week earlier. According to Beritasatu, two consecutive days of heavy rain caused the Krueng Woyla to overflow on October 26, 2026, flooding Napai, Blang Luah and Blang Cot Rubek in Woyla Barat.
Water in that earlier flood ranged from 80 centimeters to more than 2 meters deep, submerging homes, a primary school and roads, Beritasatu reported.